January 22, 2016

Winter Wolf and Snow Deer

There's an Art Challenge group I'm in on Facebook and I'm so grateful for it, because it's been getting me off my booty to actually make art, even when I don't think I have time for it.

I resist this kind of thing (don't tell me what to make and when to make it! pouts my inner brat child), but part of me also knows I sort of Need that push, sometimes, to get going. Sometimes, like busy December, the month's challenge keeps getting pushed aside for other things, but I made myself go back and do it, before I can start this month's prompt.

People in the group post photos or make a suggestion for the month's challenge and sometimes there's more than one photo. Here are two of the photos that inspired this last month's challenge (there was a snow bunny too, but everyone else covered him and these two were unrepresented, so I felt I needed to give them their fair share). Aren't they lovely? Too pretty to go unrepresented, even if I couldn't do them full justice.

The snowy branches - and the snow in general, was giving me fits, so I took a bit of artistic license with my drawings. More of an 'inspired by' look than actual representations.

Here's my interpretations of the Winter Wolf:

And here's Mr. Snow Deer:

* *Whoops! Sorry - can't seem to get the captions to line up with pictures, right - but you probably get the idea...). And here they are together, in my journal (fortunately for Mr. Deer, the sketchbook binding is acting as a fence between them):

(Silly, I know, but yes, that really is how my mind works - or flutters about - or, or -- whatever it does, in there!)

I especially was drawn to these two images because - tomorrow is the full Wolf moon! And just a week or two ago, when we had snow fall in our mountains, K and I took a little drive up into Oak Glen (one of the lower mountain communities) to see it. When we got part way up, we saw a small herd of about 8 tiny deer - so small, I thought they were goats, at first glance -- grazing where the snow had recently melted and new green grass shoots were already springing up. I didn't have my camera with me to capture them, darn it, but some moments of wonder are just meant to be enjoyed, right then, and simply stored in the memory banks. We're so very thankful here in California for the rain and snow we've been enjoying this month, after that awful drought - and I know those deer are probably even more grateful than we are!

In another bit of synchronicity, my sister Sherry, was painting snow deer too. She shared this amazing painting of hers' on Facebook, while I was finishing up my deer, so I asked her if I could share it with you and was so thrilled she said yes. Isn't it beautiful? She is so talented and is so inspiring and encouraging to me. She doesn't have a blog or website to link to - yet! - but I hope she decides to create one of her own, Someday - because the world can always use more beauty and I think her wonderful art certainly would add to it!

Hope any of you in Snowpocalypse weather, are staying warm and safe. Happy full Wolf moon, tomorrow~

Ms. Tinker! How nice to see your post and your awesome drawings. That snow is making me cold, but I can handle it just to view your wonderful art. You know I love nature art, especially that wolf. I know it feels good to you to be drawing again. It's just what your muse wants! xoxoxo